AI-Curated Guide6 products comparedUpdated daily

Best Laptops for Video Editing (2026)

Our AI analyzed 6 laptops across real-world benchmarks, creator reviews, and price-to-performance ratios to find the best options for every video editor — from $939 to $2,999.

Last price check: 16h ago · 6 live prices

Our Take

What we recommend

For professional video editing, the Apple 2024 MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip is the gold standard for performance and display precision. Its 14-core M4 Pro chip and Liquid Retina XDR display hitting 1600 nits handle 4K timelines and color grading with unmatched efficiency. It's currently 17% off, making it a strong time to buy. Just keep in mind that the 24GB of unified memory is soldered — you'll need to be sure that's enough for your long-term project needs.

If you prefer Windows or need a dedicated tool for creative shortcuts, the ASUS ProArt P16 is a brilliant alternative. It features a stunning 4K OLED touchscreen and a physical ASUS Dial that's a game-changer for scrubbing timelines or adjusting brush sizes. With 32GB of RAM and an RTX 4060, it's a powerhouse at $1,499.

For those focusing on mobility without sacrificing raw GPU power, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra packs an RTX 4070 into a premium slim chassis. It's perfect for editors on the move, though it can run hot during long renders. The HP OMEN Transcend 14 offers a 3K 120Hz OLED display with next-gen performance in a portable 3.6-pound chassis.

If you're on a stricter budget, the HP ZBook Studio 16 G9 offers a workstation-grade build with ISV certifications and 32GB of RAM at $1,109. The Dell Plus 2-in-1 provides versatile 360-degree touch editing at just $939.

Is 24GB RAM enough for 4K video editing?+
For most 4K editing workflows in Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro, 24GB is sufficient for single-project editing. However, if you regularly work with multi-cam setups, long-form content, or heavy After Effects compositions, 32GB or more provides better headroom and fewer slowdowns.
Compare the ASUS Dial vs MacBook trackpad for editing+
The ASUS Dial is a physical rotary controller that provides tactile, precise control over timeline scrubbing, brush sizes, and parameter adjustments. The MacBook trackpad relies on software gestures. For dedicated editing work, the Dial offers a more intuitive workflow, but the MacBook's trackpad is more versatile for general use.
Which has the best display for color grading?+
The Apple MacBook Pro's Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600 nits peak brightness and P3 wide color gamut is the gold standard for color accuracy. The ASUS ProArt P16's 4K OLED panel is also excellent with deep blacks and vibrant colors. Both are suitable for professional color grading.

Top Picks

Our top recommendations

Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Pro, (14‑core CPU / 20 GPU): Built for Apple Intelligence, 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 24GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage, Space Black
Best Overall

Apple · Amazon

Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop

$1,999

★★★★★4.8
The gold standard for mobile video editing — the M4 Pro chip and color-accurate XDR display provide unmatched performance for professional creative workflows.
  • 14-core M4 Pro Chip
  • Liquid Retina XDR Display (1600 nits)
  • 24GB Unified Memory
ASUS - ProArt P16 16" 4K OLED Touch Screen Laptop - Copilot+ PC - AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 - 32GB Memory - RTX 4060 - 1TB SSD - Nano Black

ASUS · Best Buy

ProArt P16 16" 4K OLED Touch S

$1,500

★★★★4.3
The best Windows laptop for video creators — combining a 4K OLED touchscreen, physical ASUS Dial, and RTX 4060 at a 25% discount.
  • 16" 4K OLED Touchscreen
  • NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU
  • ASUS Dial Controller
Samsung - Galaxy Book4 Ultra 16" AMOLED Touch Screen Laptop - Intel Core Ultra 9 - 32GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 - 1TB SSD - Moonstone Gray

Samsung · Best Buy

Galaxy Book4 Ultra 16" AMOLED

$3,000

★★★★4.3
The premium powerhouse for editors who need the absolute best GPU performance in a sleek, AMOLED-equipped Windows laptop.
  • Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
  • 16" 3K AMOLED 120Hz Touchscreen
OMEN Transcend Gaming Laptop 14" 3K Intel Core Ultra 7 16 GB memory;1 TB SSD

HP · Target

OMEN Transcend Gaming

$1,700

★★★★4.42
A potent ultra-portable workstation for mobile video editing — packing a 3K OLED display and RTX graphics into a 3.6-pound chassis at 35% off.
  • 3K 120Hz OLED Display
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX Graphics
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
HP Zbook Studio 16 G9 Mobil Workstation, Intel i7-12800H, 32 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 TB PCIe SSD, 16" WUXGA (1920x1200) Display, Nvidia G-Force RTX A1000, Backlit Keyboard, W11 Pro, Silver

HP · Amazon

HP Zbook Studio 16 G9 Mobil Wo

$1,109

A reliable budget workstation with 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD, and ISV-certified stability — ideal for editors who prioritize professional reliability over display quality.
  • 32GB DDR5 RAM
  • Intel i7-12800H 14-core
  • NVIDIA RTX A1000 Graphics
Dell - Plus 2-in-1 16" FHD+ Touch Screen Laptop - Intel Core Ultra 7 Copilot+ PC with 16GB Memory - 1TB SSD - Ice

Dell · Best Buy

Plus 2-in-1 16" FHD+ Touch Scr

$940

★★★★★4.8
An affordable, versatile 2-in-1 for light video editing and content creation — best for entry-level creators who value touchscreen flexibility.
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor
  • 16" FHD+ Touchscreen
  • 360-degree 2-in-1 Design

Specs

How they compare

Key specs for the top 6 models tested.

Comparing these six machines is a study in specialized power — from a dedicated workstation to a cutting-edge M4 Mac and high-end gaming internals repurposed for creative work.

The Apple 2024 MacBook Pro is the performance leader for sustained workloads like video rendering. The M4 Pro chip with 14 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores delivers industry-leading single and multi-threaded performance, while the Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600 nits peak brightness ensures color grading accuracy. At $1,999 (17% off), it's the professional's choice.

The ASUS ProArt P16 offers the best value-to-power ratio for Windows creators at $1,499. The 4K OLED touchscreen with the physical ASUS Dial for scrubbing timelines is a unique differentiator. With 32GB of RAM running at 7500 MHz and an RTX 4060, it handles 4K editing with ease. The 60Hz display refresh rate is the main trade-off.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is the premium Windows option with the most powerful GPU — an RTX 4070. The 16-inch 3K Dynamic AMOLED 2X touchscreen with 120Hz refresh is stunning for color-critical work. At $2,999 it's the most expensive, but you get unmatched GPU power in a slim 4.1-pound chassis.

The HP OMEN Transcend 14 packs a 3K 120Hz OLED display and next-gen Intel Core Ultra 7 with NVIDIA RTX graphics into a 3.6-pound portable chassis. At $1,699 (35% off its $2,599 regular price), it blurs the line between gaming laptop and creative workstation.

The HP ZBook Studio 16 G9 is the budget workhorse with ISV-certified professional stability. It offers 32GB DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD at $1,109, though the 12th Gen Intel processor and WUXGA display are a generation behind the competition.

The Dell Plus 2-in-1 is the entry point at $939 with its 360-degree touchscreen hinge for versatile editing modes. It's best for light editing workflows, as the 16GB RAM and integrated graphics limit heavy 4K multi-cam work.

Specification comparison of 6 products
laptopsPriceProcessorRAMGPUDisplayResolutionStorageWeightDisplay Type
Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Pro, (14‑core CPU / 20 GPU): Built for Apple Intelligence, 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 24GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage, Space Black
Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop$1,999Apple M4 Pro24 gigabytesApple 20-core GPU14.2 inches-1024 gigabytes3.52 poundsLiquid Retina XDR
ASUS - ProArt P16 16" 4K OLED Touch Screen Laptop - Copilot+ PC - AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 - 32GB Memory - RTX 4060 - 1TB SSD - Nano Black
ProArt P16 16" 4K OLED Touch S$1,500AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 37032 gigabytesNVIDIA GeForce RTX 406016 inches3840 x 24001000 gigabytes4.08 poundsOLED
Samsung - Galaxy Book4 Ultra 16" AMOLED Touch Screen Laptop - Intel Core Ultra 9 - 32GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 - 1TB SSD - Moonstone Gray
Galaxy Book4 Ultra 16" AMOLED$3,000Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 132 gigabytesNVIDIA GeForce RTX 407016 inches2880 x 18001000 gigabytes4.1 poundsAMOLED
OMEN Transcend Gaming Laptop 14" 3K Intel Core Ultra 7 16 GB memory;1 TB SSD
OMEN Transcend Gaming$1,700Intel Core Ultra 7 255H16 gigabytesNVIDIA GeForce14 inches2880 x 18001024 gigabytes3.6 poundsVA Panel
HP Zbook Studio 16 G9 Mobil Workstation, Intel i7-12800H, 32 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 TB PCIe SSD, 16" WUXGA (1920x1200) Display, Nvidia G-Force RTX A1000, Backlit Keyboard, W11 Pro, Silver
HP Zbook Studio 16 G9 Mobil Wo$1,109Intel i7-12800H32 gigabytesNvidia RTX A100016 inches1920x12002048 gigabytes3.92 poundsIPS
Dell - Plus 2-in-1 16" FHD+ Touch Screen Laptop - Intel Core Ultra 7 Copilot+ PC with 16GB Memory - 1TB SSD - Ice
Plus 2-in-1 16" FHD+ Touch Scr$940Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 216 gigabytesIntel Arc16 inches1920 x 1200 (WUXGA)1000 gigabytes4.52 poundsWVA

FAQ

Common questions, answered

For 1080p editing, integrated graphics can work. For 4K editing, color grading, and effects-heavy timelines, a dedicated GPU (RTX 4060 or better) significantly speeds up rendering, playback, and export times. NVIDIA GPUs are preferred because Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and After Effects all leverage CUDA acceleration.

Not sure which one is right?

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